ARS | Publication request: Sanitizer competency and fruit surface topography

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 22, 2010
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: All sanitizers and sanitizing protocols are not created equal. For the fresh produce market the lack of a comprehensive disinfection method is problematic especially in the face of the increasing recalls of fresh fruit, vegetables and unpasteurized juices. Research has shown that sanitizers and how they are used have different results for different commodities and are not always successful. Understanding the dynamics of the microbial populations on produce peels and their interactions with the peel itself is necessary to design a program to efficiently clean produce consistently and well. This presentation will discuss the relationships of microorganisms (including food pathogens) with fruit and vegetable surfaces and how these interactions influence the survival of the organisms as well as the efficiency of sanitizers and other treatments applied to the produce surface.